According to Polk County Florida’s Sheriff’s Office, 11 have been arrested in a multi-agency investigation, which led to the seizure of 3.5 kilos of fentanyl and 14 kilos of cocaine.

Sheriff Grady Judd worked with federal, state and local partners in the investigation of two central Florida drug trafficking rings, including the Colon-Colon Drug Trafficking Organization and the Espinosa & Romero Central Florida Drug Trafficking Organization.

Undercover detectives had several meetings with Maximo Espinosa, 44, and Luis “Bemba” Romero, 56, prior to the last meeting on January 2, where Espinosa was after arrested after showing the detective 10 kilos of cocaine and 2 kilos of fentanyl.

Espinosa operates a drug trafficking organization that spans from northeast U.S, South Florida, Puerto Rico and Mexico. He had been arrested for armed trafficking of heroin.

Pedro Mejia, Ruben Olivares and Omar Veloz were also arrested in connection with the Espinosa & Romero organization. Along with the drugs, detectives also seized two firearms, a vehicle and $4,450 in cash.

Espinosa faces drug trafficking charges. Veloz, Mejia and Olivares are facing charges including trafficking fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia. Veloz will also face charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, fleeing to elude and resisting arrest.

The agencies also worked together and arrested 6 more people associated with the Colon-Colon organization.

An undercover detective first met with Luis Salcedo-Rodriguez and Miguel Berdecia, and then while they were speaking, Roosevelt Colon-Colon and Julio Arroyo Rodriguez pulled up with a kilo of cocaine in their truck. Another vehicle with Jazmine Colon, a 7-year-old girl (who was in Jazmine Colon’s custody), and Omar Medina arrived on the scene. Beside the 7-year-old girl, all were arrested.

Detectives seized over 2 kilos of cocaine, two firearms and over $8,000.

Salcedo-Rodriguez, Colon-Colon and Rodriguez will face charges of trafficking in cocaine, 400 grams or more and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Medina is facing charges of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and negligent child abuse

Sheriff Judd said, “I’m proud of our detectives and partner agencies who worked hard to remove 17.5 kilos of destructive drugs off the streets. We are all working together to fight fentanyl, which is killing people by the thousands in the US because of drug overdoses. These drug traffickers are destroying lives, families and communities. These drugs go hand-in-hand with violence and misery in our communities.

By - FZ